Freitag, 28. September 2007

Dubai - February 2005

Dubai has always been special as a crossroad between Asia and Europe. As homebase of Emirates Airlines it shows how it is possible to build up a substantial hub within a few years.Sadly the local authorities don't really support the keen aviation photographer, but not having this done for the first time, one can keep a low profile if necessary..

Silkway Azerbaijan Airlines operates the trusty Il-76 in many guises. This example, IL-76TD 4K-AZ26, still shows the colors of Uzbek TAPO Avia, a company connected to the manufacturer Tashkent Aviation Production Association. Silkway operates a fleet of several IL76 and An12s from her base at Baku / Azerbaijan.

South East Airlines from Bangladesh operates this sole Boeing 707-3K1C S2-ADU on freight charters. She was one of the last civilian examples built and operated for Tarom as YR-ABA (with whom I was lucky enough to sample a flight on this aircraft from Bucharest to Bangkok in the late 80's).

AeroAsia from Pakistan has been around since 1993. They operated all sorts of aircraft, incl. Russian types. The DC9-51s were leased from Ukrainian Khors Air which obtained it from Finnair in 2003.The airline had her AOC revoked recently due to safety concerns.

Yak-42 UR-42366 of Donbassaero on final approach to runway 30L. The airline name originates of the Donbass area in the east of the Ukraine, where coal mining is the main source for income and the majority of the people speak Russian.

British Gulf International Airlines is the illustrious name of this Kyrgyz cargo airline. Registered EX-164 and proudly named "Alex" this An12 has since changed to the Sao Tome register and operates mainly in Africa now.

Saudi Arabian operates several flights daily to DXB - the MD-90 HZ-APJ is one of a fleet of 29 aircraft of the type and is not seen often outside Arabia.

Tepper Aviation Inc. is one of many so-called CIA-companies. L100-30 Hercules N4557C has a pure civilian background and has seen service for CAAC/Air China, China Eastern and Safair before showing up in the clandestine world.